The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 165

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 165.
As Bu Eunseol arrived before the Holy Demon Pavilion, the massive gate towering three stories high opened of its own accord.
Kuuuong.
Whether forged from heavy iron, a low, bestial cry echoed through the friction of its movement.
Bu Eunseol, who had been gazing entranced at the pitch-black darkness, slowly stepped inward.
A grand interior that appeared to reach a height of over ten stories came into view.
The floor was laid with stones tinged in azure light, and round pillars supporting the structure rose at intervals throughout.
The ceiling was densely embedded with Seven-Colored Night Pearls, illuminating the interior brilliantly.
At the far end of the Great Hall, a towering platform had been constructed, and upon it stood a solitary shadow.
Though the Seven-Colored Night Pearls cast a gentle radiance throughout the interior, an uncanny darkness lingered upon the platform.
And the shadow standing there.
Its form seemed as though it were projecting an image of oneself standing upright within an abyss.
Though the deep shadows obscured the face, Bu Eunseol could discern the shadow’s identity in an instant.
Ma Cheon Je, Sa Do Moo Myung.
The foremost master of the Demonic Path of this age and lord of the Demon Palace, who divides Tianxia equally with the Murim Alliance.
That great colossus stood before my eyes.
‘Is Ma Cheon Je alone?’
Bu Eunseol felt a sense of bewilderment.
Upon entering the Holy Demon Pavilion, Ma Cheon Je would be seated upon the throne, looking down from above….
Naturally, I had expected all the subordinate leaders under Ma Cheon Je and the heads of each organization to be bowing their heads in the Great Hall below.
Yet contrary to expectation, Ma Cheon Je alone filled this vast Great Hall.
“Disciple of Nangya Pavilion….”
Bu Eunseol attempted to bow in salute toward Ma Cheon Je.
But the moment the word “disciple” left my lips, my mouth could open no further.
“Bu Eunseol….”
Opening my mouth once more to speak, white teeth gleamed from within Ma Cheon Je’s shadow.
“Quite impressive.”
What could he mean by impressive?
As Bu Eunseol attempted to force my mouth open again, Ma Cheon Je turned his body.
“Follow me.”
It was a command that could not be refused.
Thud, thud.
Bu Eunseol ascended the platform like one entranced, following Ma Cheon Je’s shadow out of the Great Hall.
Passing through a long, extended corridor, the western gate of the Holy Demon Pavilion came into view. Upon stepping outside through it, an unexpected sight unfolded.
‘A field?’
Remarkably, outside the western gate of the Holy Demon Pavilion lay a vegetable garden.
And at its center stood a small pavilion, perfectly positioned to sit comfortably and gaze upon the scenery.
Swish.
Ma Cheon Je, who had been gazing up at the sunlight, slowly turned his body toward Bu Eunseol.
At last, I could see Ma Cheon Je’s form fully revealed beneath the sunlight.
“…!”
Our eyes met, and I widened my gaze in shock.
At the same moment, a peculiar resonance echoed through my chest.
The Ma Cheon Je I had imagined was an absolute being—merciless, bearing the imposing presence of Mount Tai itself.
But the figure of the foremost master of the Demonic Path revealed beneath the sun….
was dressed in the ordinary appearance of an elderly man one might encounter in any village.
“A disciple of Nangya Pavilion….”
Hastily collecting myself, I lowered my head and offered a respectful bow.
“Bu Eunseol pays respects to Ma Cheon Je.”
Then I lifted my gaze to regard Ma Cheon Je once more.
Boom.
Again, that strange resonance reverberated through my chest.
Moments ago, standing before my eyes was an ordinary elderly man in his twilight years.
But now before me was a monster wearing human skin—no, an incomprehensible existence of unknown nature.
‘Am I experiencing an illusion?’
As I blinked several times, Ma Cheon Je before my eyes suddenly transformed into hundreds of different forms.
Sometimes an ordinary old man appeared; sometimes an absolute being who dominated all others manifested.
Then I glimpsed an immortal radiating hollow serenity, and blinking again, the leader of the world’s demons stood before me.
Splash.
Blood erupted from deep within my belly, surging up my throat.
Merely meeting Ma Cheon Je’s gaze had inflicted grave internal injuries upon me.
‘This is not internal damage from mere momentum or inner force….’
I clenched my lips tightly, grasping at my consciousness as it grew hazy.
‘I must fortify my spirit. Otherwise, I will suffer irreversible internal injuries.’
I concentrated my mind to expel the intrusive thoughts that burrowed into my consciousness.
“Hehehehe.”
Ma Cheon Je let out a low chuckle.
“Your cultivation of spirit is considerable, not merely your inner force.”
And his fixed gaze swept lightly across my body once more.
With merely that glance passing over me, I felt as though my body and mind were completely seized, every corner of my being—inside and out—laid bare.
‘So this is the Limitless Realm….’
The Limitless Realm, said to transcend the Extreme Heaven Realm and reach the boundary of martial mastery. Ma Cheon Je, known to have approached the edge of that state.
That realm was beyond my comprehension.
‘If one reaches the Limitless Realm, can they embrace all things in the world?’
From Ma Cheon Je who dominates the Demonic Tianxia, to the vital essence of a villager dwelling in remote mountains.
This being before me possessed everything humanity could manifest, encompassing all human forms.
‘If I reach the sixth stage of the Inverse Extreme Heart Method… no, if I attain the seventh stage, could I too display such presence?’
Ma Cheon Je, observing me lost in contemplation, opened his mouth.
“It seems you have grasped something from observing this one.”
“Indeed.”
“What exactly is that?”
“Upon reaching the Limitless Realm, one can embrace and contain both phenomena and truth itself.”
“Hehehehe.”
Ma Cheon Je wore a satisfied expression, yet shook his head.
“That is merely the state I have achieved—not a phenomenon visible within the boundaries of the Limitless Realm.”
“….”
“Foolish martial artists divide the realms of martial arts and bind themselves to such divisions. If you wish to reign supreme over all, you must not ascend the stairs built by others.”
“Built by others….”
“Indeed.”
A flash of lightning flickered across Ma Cheon Je’s pupils.
“You must first destroy everything created by others—even the boundaries and doctrines inscribed in the Divine Arts Scripture.”
In that instant, Bu Eunseol felt her hair stand on end.
‘Has he peered into the depths of my own mind?’
Ma Cheon Je had been perceiving all along the doubts about martial cultivation that Bu Eunseol harbored within her heart.
Thump-thump.
My heart began to race uncontrollably.
Ma Cheon Je.
In my eyes, he was no longer human. He felt closer to something transcendent—an indefinable, nebulous existence beyond mortal comprehension.
This is precisely why the ruler of the Demonic Path is called not Sa Do Moo Myung, but Ma Cheon Je.
“Yet how remarkable.”
Ma Cheon Je, observing Bu Eunseol unable to conceal her astonishment, smiled broadly.
“At your age, to dimly perceive even the faintest shadow of my realm is no trivial feat.”
And he murmured as if to himself.
“Ak Moo Ryung. From his perspective, this must sting quite bitterly.”
Ak Moo Ryung.
That was the name of the Nangya Pavilion Master.
But why would the Pavilion Master’s heart suddenly ache?
Bu Eunseol, unable to immediately grasp Ma Cheon Je’s meaning, turned his words over in her mind for a long moment.
‘Ah, I see. He said they entered seclusion together with Ma Cheon Je.’
According to Dan Cheong, Ma Cheon Je and the Nangya Pavilion Master had tested their martial prowess against each other, and due to injuries sustained, both supreme masters entered seclusion simultaneously.
Yet the Nangya Pavilion Master had not yet emerged, while Ma Cheon Je had already completed his seclusion….
This proved that the Nangya Pavilion Master’s martial cultivation could not yet match Ma Cheon Je’s.
‘But why would that situation cause the Pavilion Master such bitterness?’
As Bu Eunseol’s pupils wavered several times, Ma Cheon Je resolved her confusion as if reading her thoughts.
“Had he not been in seclusion, I would never have sent a disciple of Nangya Pavilion as a candidate heir to the Demon Palace.”
Ma Cheon Je bared his teeth in a smile as beautiful as a woman’s.
“For he is my only true rival.”
Only then did Bu Eunseol grasp Ma Cheon Je’s meaning.
Regardless of the process, the result was that he had brought his rival’s disciple into the Demon Palace through his power…
From Ma Cheon Je’s perspective, there was a certain exhilaration to be savored in this.
“I’ve heard all about your journey to reach this place. Indeed, you live up to being a Nangya Pavilion disciple—reckless and headstrong.”
Though his words carried criticism, Ma Cheon Je’s voice held unmistakable praise.
“After concluding my seclusion and returning to the Holy Demon Pavilion, I have personally observed the successors of the Ten Demonic Gates and the exceptional talents recommended by the Elder Council.”
As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed upon Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“Among them all, you are undoubtedly the most singular.”
Ma Cheon Je sighed deeply, speaking as though to himself.
“A successor candidate with no interest in the position of successor itself….”
Bu Eunseol was greatly startled, yet she revealed nothing, opening her mouth with careful deliberation.
“How did you discern this?”
“Every candidate who has stood before me displays intense desires—success, status, power… various burning ambitions. But you, you covet nothing, like a devoted sage devoted to the Way.”
Ma Cheon Je offered a faint, enigmatic smile.
“If you have no desire to become my successor, why have you come to the Demon Palace?”
“I have come to challenge a new destiny.”
“A new destiny.”
Ma Cheon Je’s smile deepened with mysterious knowing.
As though he had pierced through to what Bu Eunseol truly sought—not status, but an endless ascent toward greater strength.
“Perhaps you are indeed the talent I have been seeking.”
“I do not understand your meaning.”
“Then observe. Behold this Demon Palace.”
Ma Cheon Je gestured toward the vast expanse of the Demon Palace sprawling behind the Holy Demon Pavilion.
“This immense realm is a coalition forged not by righteousness, but by the pursuit of power. And where manifold desires intertwine, inevitable decay must follow.”
He spoke with calm certainty.
“Precisely because I understand this, I have implemented the plan of the Ten Demon Immortals.”
Bu Eunseol fell silent.
The Ten Demon Immortals plan had created chess pieces upon the board necessary for the struggle between the Demonic Path and the Orthodox Sects.
In other words, they were nothing more than expendable pawns to be discarded at will.
“Hehehehe. So that was your grievance.”
Ma Cheon Je spoke with unperturbed calm.
“Human life is largely thus. It seems to move by one’s own will. Yet… when one truly examines it, are we not merely chess pieces played by the hand of destiny?”
Bu Eunseol need not have expressed her inner thoughts.
As though wielding mind-reading arts, Ma Cheon Je was thoroughly reading the depths of her heart.
“I became the master of the Demon Palace to reject destiny. Yet upon reflection, that too could be called destiny.”
He continued, murmuring words of obscure meaning.
“I ask again. Do you wish to become my successor and lead the Demon Palace in my stead?”
Bu Eunseol drew a deep breath and bowed her head.
“I do.”
“Yet you currently lack the qualifications to be my successor.”
At this utterly unexpected response, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
“You are the successor of the Nangya Pavilion, the weakest faction among the Ten Demonic Gates. Moreover, your relations with the White Horse Sect and Hell Blood Castle are far from favorable.”
Ma Cheon Je fixed his gaze intently upon Bu Eunseol.
“The position of Demon Palace master fundamentally requires the ability to encompass all Ten Demonic Gates.”
When I thought about it, it was an obvious statement.
The Ten Demonic Gates—ten pillars supporting the Demonic Path and the core forces comprising the Demon Palace.
Without their support, one could never dare ascend to the position of Demon Palace successor.
“Then do you know why I summoned you to the Demon Palace?”
Bu Eunseol, who had been thinking for a moment, answered respectfully.
“If we set aside such qualifications… I believe you summoned me to directly verify whether I possess potential as a successor.”
“Correct. Encompassing the Ten Demonic Gates is a matter to be resolved later. First, I wanted to confirm your temperament.”
“….”
“Had you led Nangya Pavilion’s forces to the Demon Palace, or shown any sign of avoiding the overwhelming enemies… I would never have allowed you entry.”
Ma Cheon Je smiled faintly.
“But you did not evade the enemies despite the disadvantageous situation, and instead displayed a momentum that could cover the heavens. That is precisely the temperament needed to lead a million practitioners of the Demonic Path.”
And he continued calmly.
“Without such temperament, no matter how superior one’s martial arts, they cannot become the successor of the Demon Palace.”
Ma Cheon Je’s tone gradually softened, as if he were speaking to a grandson.
“Therefore… I shall give you the opportunity to become a candidate for the Demon Palace successor.”
“Thank you.”
“There is nothing to thank me for. With no foundation to stand upon, you will have to walk a far more difficult and arduous path than others to gain power as a successor.”
Ma Cheon Je, who had been staring intently at Bu Eunseol, spoke again.
“Do you understand what you must do from now on?”
Bu Eunseol, who had experienced the succession struggle of the Sichuan Dang Family alongside Dang Gon.
I understood well that to become a successor of any sect, above all else, one needed the support of existing forces.
“I must gather forces that will support me as a successor.”
“Correct. To do so, you must first seek out those among the Ten Demonic Gates who have no connection to the position of successor.”
“Are you referring to Jeol Cheon Myul Ji?”
Jeol Cheon Myul Ji.
That place was where great demons of old, who had shaken heaven and earth, lived in seclusion.
Their unique demonic arts were preserved in Jeol Cheon Myul Ji, and in exchange, their remaining years were guaranteed within that place.
Thus, for great demons who could not become sect elders or had no successors, it was a place with no other choice.
“Indeed. Jeol Cheon Myul Ji is where practitioners of the Demonic Path spend their remaining years, and though it is counted among the Ten Demonic Gates, they refrain extremely from Murim activities.”
Ma Cheon Je spoke.
“Additionally, Moo Ha Soo Yu Jeong also has no connection to the position of successor. They are a sect of women.”
Moo Ha Soo Yu Jeong.
That place was a renowned school of great demonic arts such as Soul Seizing Technique, Yin Arts, and Nutrient Absorption Technique.
However, due to the nature of being a women’s sect, they extremely restrained Murim activities and covertly manipulated Murim forces. Thus, they held only the status of the Ten Demonic Gates under the Demon Palace’s care.
“Jeol Cheon Myul Ji and Moo Ha Soo Yu Jeong. Though called the Ten Demonic Gates, these two places are fundamentally neutral. You must obtain their support.”
Ma Cheon Je spoke with a solemn expression.
“We shall discuss matters concerning the position of successor afterward.”
No practitioner of the Demonic Path would refuse Ma Cheon Je’s stern command.
Bu Eunseol immediately lowered her head and clasped her hands together.
“I understand.”
“You may go.”
It was a brief dismissal.
Bu Eunseol bowed deeply. Then, with measured respect, she turned and departed through the fields, leaving the Holy Demon Pavilion behind.
“Hmm.”
Ma Cheon Je’s eyes narrowed as he watched Bu Eunseol’s receding figure.
“A natural-born Demonic Path cultivator brimming with such formidable killing intent. Yet she carries the temperament of righteousness…”
A flicker of intrigue crossed Ma Cheon Je’s gaze.
“Indeed… how fascinating.”
It was the look of a man, not merely a grand master commanding the Demonic Path.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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